Section III

Supplementary Information

Organizational Information

Human Resources and Social Development Canada

HRSDC - Service Canada

Financial Performance Overview

Please note that financial tables provided in this section present Human Resources and Skills Development and Social Development separately in order to align with the 2006-2007 Main Estimates.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

In 2006-2007, the department was authorized to spend $19,449.7 million or $269.6 million less than the consolidated planned spending of $19,719.3 million (tables 1 and 3). The variance is explained by:

• A decrease of $332.8 million in the Specified Purpose Accounts mostly attributable to a revised forecast of Employment Insurance Part I benefits in the Employment Insurance Account. Employment Insurance benefits declined mainly as a result of a decrease in the number of beneficiaries, consistent with lower unemployment;
• A net decrease of $195.6 million in the statutory payment authorities mostly attributable to:
  • A decrease of $70.0 million in Canada Education Savings Grants (CESG), due to downward estimate adjustment mainly due to sluggish payments of the Additional CESG (A-CESG). Lower than expected A-CESG payments are attributable to several factors including low awareness and more gradual implementation from Registered Education Savings Plan promoters;
  • A decrease of $58.2 million in Payments related to the direct financing arrangement under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, is mainly due to a decrease in the alternative payments payable to non-participating provinces, resulting from the fact that defaulted loans, which is a component of that payment, was significantly reduced;
  • A decrease of $28.7 million for the Wage Earner Protection Program which was not implemented in 2006-2007;
  • A decrease of $27.3 million in Liabilities under the Canada Student Loans Act due to the fact that actual spending is presented net of the recoveries on claims while the planned spending represents the forecast expenditure of claims payments;
  • A decrease of $23.2 million in Canada Learning Bond due to downward estimate adjustment due to limited uptake as a result of the recent introduction of the Canada Learning Bond, delayed readiness of the delivery systems of Registered Education Savings Plan promoters, and limited marketing of the Canada Learning Bond from communications and outreach activities;
  • A decrease of $23.0 million associated with contributions to employee benefit plans.
  • An increase of $26.5 million in Canada Study Grants, is the result of higher than expected up-take of the Canada Access Grants (Low Income Families and Permanent Disability), proposed in Budget 2004 and effective August 2005.
  • An increase of $7.4 million for the provision of funds for interest payments and liabilities in the form of Risk Shared loans under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act. The variance is mainly due to the continuous impact of debt management measures as well as the outstanding balance of the in-study portfolio being higher and expiring slower than previously forecasted.
• A decrease of $10.8 million in grants and contributions mostly related to:
  • A decrease of $31.6 million for the Workplace Skills Initiative reprofiled to future years;
  • A decrease of $24.8 million further to the announcement of September 25, 2006 on Effective Spending of which $10 million is related to the Youth Employment Strategy, $8.0 million related to the Training Centre Infrastructure Fund, $4.8 million related to the Adult Learning Literacy and Essential Skills program and $2.0 million related to Workplace Partners Panel;
  • A decrease of $6.2 million for items included in planned spending for which resources were not requested in 2006-2007 for Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnerships ($5.3 million) and Foreign Credential Recognition ($1.0 million);
  • Offset by an increase of $52.2 million further to:
    • a reprofile from 2005-06 to 2006-2007 for the National Homelessness Initiative ($37.2 million);
    • new funding announced for the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers and Expert Panel ($8.0 million) to assist unemployed older workers in communities with ongoing high unemployment and/or affected by downsizing; and
    • additional funding for the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant of $7.0 million (from $25.0 million to $32.0 million), to encourage more Canadians to pursue apprenticeships and reward progression by providing $1,000 per year to apprentices successfully completing their first or second year of an apprenticeship program in a Red Seal Trade.
• An increase of $250.4 million in Loans disbursed under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act is mainly due to actual gross amount of repayments being much lower than anticipated as a result of the major decrease in accounts returned to government.
• An increase of $19.2 million in net operating expenditures mainly due to:
  • Operating budget Carry-forward from 2005-2006 ($13.3 million);
  • Compensation for salary adjustments ($8.3 million);
  • Transfer from the Privy Council Office of $3.1 million for the Policy Research Initiative as a result of government restructuring;
  • Operating funds for Targeted Initiative for Older Workers and Expert Panel ($2.7 million);
  • Funding to enable the Labour Program to respond to critical program pressures resulting from steadily increasing responsibilities ($1.8 million);
  • Offset by decreases for:
    • Items included in planned spending for which resources were not requested in 2006-2007 such as Wage Earner Protection Program ($3.2 million) and Foreign Credential Recognition, ($1.0 million);
    • An amount of $2.3 million transferred to Social Development Canada for the training of employees to achieve high service delivery standards for Canadians;
    • Funding no longer required pursuant to modified resourcing requirements of the new recovery initiative of the Canada Student Loans ($2.1 million);
    • A decrease of $2.0 million further to the announcement of September 25, 2006 on Effective Spending;

The actual consolidated expenditures of $19,235.4 million were $214.3 million lower than our total consolidated authorities of $19,449.7 million. This was mainly due to:

• Grants and contributions expenditures being $108.6 million less than the authorities for:
  • The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant ($31.3 million). Funding approval for the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant was confirmed at the end of March 2007. The launch and promotional activities required to create awareness of the new program were delayed;
  • The Homelessness Initiative ($25.1 million), this amount will be requested for re-profile to 2007-2008 to ensure that funds will be available for proposals that are developed for activities to alleviate homelessness;
  • Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program ($13.1 million) mainly due to a late launch of Call for Proposals deferring spending to 2007-2008;
  • Youth Employment Strategy ($8.1 million), due to the uncertainty in determining funding requirements for the Skills Link initiative;
  • Targeted Initiative for Older Workers ($8.0 million), due to length of time to sign Federal-Provincial/Territorial agreements, pushing required work into 2007-2008;
  • The contribution agreement with Joint Voisey's Bay Employment and Training Authority ended earlier than anticipated on March 31, 2006, as the construction of the Voisey's Bay Nickel/Mine site was a year ahead of schedule ($4.7 million);
  • Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnerships ($3.8 million), due to length of time to establish the agreements. The funds were re-profiled into future years;
  • Sector Council Program ($3.8 million), a result of delays in the implementation of certain projects;
  • Costs were lower than anticipated for the World Urban Forum ($2.4 million) due to a favourable exchange rate. Funds set aside for contingencies were not required as the event ran smoothly;
  • Foreign Credential Recognition ($2.1 million) due to projects deferred to future years, particularly in the agreements with provinces;
  • Workplace Skills Initiative ($2.0 million) due to a deferral of projects to the next fiscal year;
  • Training Centre Infrastructure Fund ($1.5 million) partly due to the withdrawal of projects by the recipients;
  • Labour Management Partnership Program ($1.2 million) due to the non-approval of some projects;
  • Other lapses ($1.5 million).
• A decrease of $96.7 million in the Specified Purpose Accounts. The variance is related to the
  • Employment Insurance Account with $35.5 million in Employment Insurance Part I; Employment Insurance benefits declined in 2006-2007 due to a decrease in the number of beneficiaries, consistent with lower unemployment, and due to the introduction of the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan,
  • $50.7 million in Employment Insurance Part II out of a total budget of $2.166 billion, due to normal delays in the implementation of projects and lower than expected expenditures by some projects;
  • $49.5 million in administrative costs, mainly due to a lapsed surplus of $30.4 million for Human Resources and Social Development Canada and $12.8 million for Social Development Canada;
  • offset by $43.9 million in doubtful accounts as a result of an increase in the overpayments bad debt;
  • and to the Canada Pension Plan Account with $4.9 million in administrative costs; and

• A net operating lapse of $ 9.0 million related to $1.6 million in frozen resources and $7.4 million in general lapse. The frozen items are attributable to the Canada Student Loans Program ($1.1 million), and a year-end transfer price between salary and non-salary ($0.5 million).

Social Development Canada

In 2006-2007, the department was authorized to spend $60,787.3 million or $700.8 million more than the consolidated planned spending of $60,086.5 million (tables 1 and 3). The variance is explained by:

• A variance of $646.4 million in Grants and Contributions representing the residual amount frozen for the National Early Learning Program.
• An increase of $166.6 million in the Specified Purpose Accounts related to the Canada Pension Plan and the Employment Insurance accounts:
  • an amount of $115.0 million for the administrative costs of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board which was previously netted against the revenues of the Board;
  • a $35.7 million increase in administrative costs payable to the Canada Revenue Agency related to a $31.5 million increase and adjustment in the basic costs to administer Part I of the Canada Pension Plan and $4.2 million to undertake a special Canada Pension Plan contribution project;
  • an increase of $27.7 million in other Canada Pension Plan administration costs;
  • In the Employment Insurance Account, the increase in departmental administrative costs ($5.2 million) is mainly due to collective bargaining increases.
  • The increase is offset by a revision to forecast in Canada Pension Plan benefits of $17.0 million.
• An increase of $14.4 million in net operating expenditures is largely due to:
  • Compensation for salary adjustments ($14.8 million);
  • Operating budget Carry forward from 2005-2006 ($11.9 million);
  • An increase of $7.7 million for Service Canada to deliver the lump sum payments recognizing the experience of residing at an Indian Residential School and its impact (Common Experience Payments);
  • An amount of $2.3 million transferred from Human Resources and Skills Development for the training of employees to achieve high service delivery standards for Canadians;
  • Offset by decreases as a result of:
    • Transfers to the Canada Revenue Agency and Public Works and Government Services Canada for National Collection Services ($20.0 million);
    • The announcement of September 25, 2006 on Effective Spending related to Understanding the Early Years ($2.9 million); and
• A net decrease of $126.6 million in statutory payment authorities mostly related to:
  • a decrease of $376.2 million in the Old Age Security (OAS) forecast can be attributed to several factors. The average monthly rate of the Old Age Security pension for 2006-07 was less than forecasted due to a greater proportion of partial pensions. There was also an increase in the average number of monthly Old Age Security recipients. Lastly there was an increase in forecasted benefit repayment from higher-income Old Age Security recipients through the Old Age Security Recovery Tax.
  • a transfer of $18.5 million to the Canada Revenue Agency for the National Collection Services and Collection, Litigation and Advisory Services as a result of government restructuring;
  • offset by increases for:
    • Universal Child Care Benefits paid to Canadian families with young children ($174.4 million);
    • Guaranteed Income Supplement ($81.1 million) resulting from an increase in the forecasted average monthly rate. In 2006-2007, the average monthly Guaranteed Income Supplement rate was higher than estimated. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in the average forecasted number of monthly recipients;
    • Contributions to the Employee Benefit Plan ($4.5 million);
    • Allowance Payment ($4.1 million) which can be attributed to an increase in the forecasted average monthly rate of the benefit; and
    • Energy cost benefits ($3.7 million) which are one-time payments for energy costs incurred by low income seniors and families with children.

The actual consolidated expenditures of $60,070.7 million were $716.6 million lower than our total consolidated authorities of $60,787.3 million. The variance is largely explained by:

• A net operating lapse of $33.6 million resulting from $15.0 million in frozen resources such as the Canada Student Loans Program ($2.9 million) and year-end transfer price between salary and non-salary ($12.1 million) and $18.6 million in general lapse;
• A Grants and Contributions variance of $657.5 million including $648.6 million in frozen resources and $8.9 million in general lapse; and
• A decrease of $25.4 million in Special Purpose Accounts related to a decrease in administration costs recoverable from the Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan accounts.

Table 7A: User Fees Act

Note: The Tables 7B for Policy on Service Standards for External Fees Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Policy on Service Standards for External Fees Social Development Canada can be found on line at:
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/estime.asp.

Table 8: Progress Against the Department's Regulatory Plan

In order to reduce the volume of printed material, this table was not to be included in the printed Departmental Performance Report but can be found at:
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/estime.asp

Table 9: Details on Transfers Payments Programs

Human Resources and Social Development Canada has a number of transfer payment programs. These programs support individuals, communities, labour, other governments and Aboriginal organizations. HRSDC is subject to the revised policy on transfer payments, which was introduced on June 1, 2000. That policy requires departments to report on those payment programs that are worth at least $5 million.

Note: Actual figures reflect program costs and exclude operating resources necessary to deliver the programs.

1. Youth Employment Strategy
2. Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy
3. Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnerships
4. Aboriginal Human Resources Development Program - the Joint Voisey's Bay Employment and Training Authority
5. Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
6. Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities
7. Sector Council Program
8. Foreign Credential Recognition Program
9. Apprenticeship Incentive Grant
10. Training Centre Infrastructure Fund
11. Workplace Skills Initiative
12. Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program
13. Canada Study Grant / Canada Access Grant
14. Canada Student Loans Program - Direct Financing Arrangement
15. Canada Student Loans Program - Interest Payments and Liabilities
16. Canada Student Loans Program - Liabilities
17. Canada Education Savings Program - Canada Education Savings Grant
18. Canada Education Savings Program, Canada Learning Bond
19. Social Development Partnerships Program
20. Guaranteed Income Supplement
21. Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities
22. New Horizons for Seniors Program
23. Old Age Security
24. Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
25. Allowance
26. Early Learning and Child Care
27. Universal Child Care Benefit
28. National Homelessness Initiative

Further information on these Transfer Payments Programs can be found at:
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/estime.asp

Table 10: Foundations (Conditional Grants)

During fiscal year 2006-2007, Human Resources and Social Development Canada was involved in the following Foundations.

1. Read to Me! Foundation Inc.
2. Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy
3. Canadian Council on Learning
4. The Winnipeg Foundation
5. The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation

Further information on these Foundations (Conditional Grants) can be found at
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/estimE.asp

Table 12: Sustainable Development Strategy

Following the consolidation of the Departments of Social Development Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada into the Department of Human Resources and Social Development in February 2006, a new strategy was developed to guide the sustainable development efforts of the new department for 2007-2009 and was tabled in December 2006.

The vision of the new strategy is to support the Government of Canada's approach to sustainable development by committing the Department to achieve tangible results both in terms of greening its operations and in promoting long-term sustainability in Canadian society through social development and labour market policies and programs: "Advancing sustainable development by supporting a strong, inclusive labour market and society, and by being an example of sustainability in the provision of Government of Canada services to Canadians in a manner that reduces the impact on the environment".

Human Resources and Social Development Canada manages, through Service Canada, one of the federal government's largest regional and local service delivery networks across the country. In 2006-2007, the Department has made significant efforts to support the Government's objective on greening of its operations. For example, citizens have been encouraged to use direct deposit for social security and Employment Insurance cheques, more services and documentation were made accessible online to reduce paper usage, and energy consumption was reduced through the implementation of conservation-focused office design and energy-efficient lighting. Work is underway to refine existing performance indicators to measure progress against expected results and targets in supporting the greening of government operations.

The Department has developed, under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, new occupational health and safety regulations to deal with workplace violence, which are expected to come into force by the end of 2007, and are currently seeking to make amendments to the Hazard Prevention Program Regulations to further improve workplace safety and security in the federal jurisdiction.

The Department has undertaken work to develop a more effective process to conduct Strategic Environmental Assessments in support of its policy, plans and program proposals.

Detailed information on the 2007-2009 Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS-IV), including specific goals, objectives and targets, is available at the following departmental website:
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/cs/sp/hrsd/cpa/publications/reports/sds-2007-2009/hrsdc_sds_2007- 2009.pdf

Table 13: Procurement and Contracting

In order to reduce the volume of printed material, this table was not to be included in the printed Departmental Performance Report but can be found at:
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/estime.asp

Table 14: Client-Centered Service

In order to reduce the volume of printed material, this table was not to be included in the printed Departmental Performance Report but can be found at:
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/estime.asp

Table 15: Horizontal Initiatives

During fiscal year 2006-2007 Human Resources and Social Development Canada was involved in the following horizontal initiatives. Unless otherwise mentioned in the list, Human Resources and Social Development Canada acts as the lead department for these initiatives.

1. Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy
2. Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership Program
3. Labour Market Development Agreements
4. Youth Employment Strategy
5. Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
6. Foreign Credential Recognition Program
7. Sector Council Program
8. Canada Student Loans Program
9. National Homelessness Initiative
10. National Child Benefit
11. Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care
12. Early Childhood Development Agreement

For further information on the above-mentioned horizontal initiatives, see:
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/eppi-ibdrp/hrdb-rhbd/profil_e.asp

Table 16: Travel Policies

HRSDC applied the TBS travel policy parameters with respect to departmental travel transactions.

Specified Purpose Accounts
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Introduction

Specified Purpose Accounts are special categories of revenues and expenditures. They report transactions of certain accounts where enabling legislation requires that revenues be earmarked and that related payments and expenditures be charged against such revenues. The transactions of these accounts are to be accounted for separately.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada is responsible for the stewardship of three such accounts:

• the Employment Insurance Account;
• the Government Annuities Account; and
• the Civil Service Insurance Fund.

The Employment Insurance Account is a consolidated Specified Purpose Account and is included in the financial reporting of the Government of Canada. Consolidated Specified Purpose Accounts are used principally where the activities are similar in nature to departmental activities and the transactions do not represent liabilities to third parties but, in essence, constitute Government revenues and expenditures.

The Government Annuities Account is a consolidated Specified Purpose Account and is included in the financial reporting of the Government of Canada. It was established by the Government Annuities Act, and modified by the Government Annuities Improvement Act, which discontinued sales of annuities in 1975. The account is valued on an actuarial basis each year, with the deficit or surplus charged or credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The Civil Service Insurance Fund is a consolidated Specified Purpose Account and is included in the financial reporting of the Government of Canada. It was established by the Civil Service Insurance Act. Pursuant to subsection 16(3) of the Civil Service Insurance Regulations, the amount of actuarial deficits is transferred from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the Civil Service Insurance Account in order to balance the assets and liabilities of the program.

The following information updates forecasted data on the Employment Insurance Account that the Department provided in the 2006-2007 Report on Plans and Priorities. That report presented multi year financial data and general information. Additional information on performance and year end data is available at the internet addresses provided in this section.

Employment Insurance Account

The table below summarizes the financial results for the EI Account from 2004-2005 to 2006-2007.

In 2006-2007 revenue from EI premiums increased due to growth in employment and earnings, partially offset by a lower premium rate and by the premium reduction associated with the introduction of the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), under which maternity and parental benefits in Quebec are a provincial responsibility as of January 2006. Meanwhile, EI benefits declined in 2006-2007 due to a decrease in the number of beneficiaries, consistent with lower unemployment, and due to the introduction of the QPIP. As a result, revenues to the EI Account for 2006-2007 exceeded expenditures by $1.4 billion. Including interest of $2.0 billion, the notional cumulative surplus in the EI Account was $54.1 billion at March 31, 2007.

More detailed information is reported in the 2006-2007 audited EI Account financial statements that are included in the 2007 Public Accounts of Canada, Volume 1, Section 4.³¹ HRSDC also offers information on Employment Insurance on its website.³² This provides information on the authority, objectives and details of the program as well as links to Actuarial Reports and the EI Commission's annual Monitoring and Assessment Reports.

Government Annuities Account

The table below summarizes the financial results for the Government Annuities Account from 2004-2005 to 2006-2007.

The annual report and financial statements for Government Annuities are available in the 2007 Public Accounts of Canada, Volume 1, Section 6.³³

Civil Service Insurance Fund

The table below summarizes the financial results for the Civil Service Insurance Fund from 2004-2005 to 2006-2007.

The annual report and financial statements for the Civil Service Insurance Fund are available in the 2007 Public Accounts of Canada, Volume 1, Section 6.³⁴

Specified Purpose Accounts
Social Development Canada

Introduction

Specified Purpose Accounts are special categories of revenues and expenditures. They report transactions of certain accounts where enabling legislation requires that revenues be earmarked and that related payments and expenditures be charged against such revenues. The transactions of these accounts are to be accounted for separately.

The Canada Pension Plan is a Specified Purpose Account but is not consolidated as part of the Government of Canada financial statements. It is under joint control of the government and the participating provinces. As administrator, the government's authority to spend is limited to the balance in the Plan.

The following information updates forecasted data on the Canada Pension Plan provided in Human Resources and Social Development Canada's 2006-2007 Part III - Report on Plans and Priorities.³⁵ That report presented multi-year financial data and general information. Additional information on performance and year-end data is available at the internet addresses provided in this section.

Canada Pension Plan

The following table summarizes the financial results for the Canada Pension Plan from 2004-2005 to 2006-2007.

More information relating to 2006-2007 is reported in the Canada Pension Plan financial statements which can be found in the 2007 Public Accounts of Canada, Volume 1, Section 6

Statutory Annual Reports

Old Age Security

The Old Age Security program is one of the cornerstones of Canada's retirement income system. Benefits include the basic Old Age Security pension, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance. The Old Age Security program is financed from Government of Canada general tax revenues. The following tables present information on monthly benefits, beneficiaries and payments by province or territory.

Consolidated Report on Canada Student Loans Program

In August 2000, the Canada Student Loans Program was shifted from the risk-shared financing arrangements that had been in place with financial institutions between 1995 and July 2000 to a direct student loan financing plan.³⁶

This meant that the Program had to redesign the delivery mechanism in order to directly finance student loans. In the new arrangement, the Government of Canada provides the necessary funding to students and two service providers have contracts to administer the loans.

Reporting Entity

The entity detailed in this report is the Canada Student Loans Program only and does not include departmental operations related to the delivery of the Canada Student Loans Program. Expenditures figures are primarily statutory in nature, made under the authority of the Canada Student Loans Act and the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act.

Basis of Accounting

The financial figures are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and as reflected in the Public Sector Accounting Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Specific Accounting Policies

Revenues

Two sources of revenue are reported: interest revenue on Direct Loans and recoveries on Guaranteed and Put Back Loans. Government accounting practices require that recoveries from both sources be credited to the Government's Consolidated Revenue Fund. They do not appear along with the expenditures in the CANADA STUDENT LOANS PROGRAM accounts, but are reported separately in the financial statements of Human Resources and Social Development Canada and the government.

• Interest Revenue on Direct Loans - Borrowers are required to pay simple interest on their student loans once they leave full-time studies. At the time they leave school, students have the option of selecting a variable (prime + 2.5%) or fixed (prime + 5%) interest rate. The figures represent the interest accrued on the outstanding balance of the government-owned Direct Loans. Borrowers continue to pay the interest accruing on the guaranteed and risk-shared loans directly to the private lender holding these loans. Effective August 1, 2005, the weekly loan limit increased from $165 per week to $210 per week of study. As more funds will be available to students, total loan disbursements will likely grow, and as a result the interest revenue generated will likely increase.
• Recoveries on Guaranteed Loans - The government reimburses the private lenders for any loans issued prior to August 1, 1995 that go into default (i.e., lenders claim any amount of principal and interest not repaid in full). The figures represent the recovery of principal and interest on these defaulted loans.
• Recoveries on Put-back Loans - Under the risk-shared agreements, the government will purchase from the participating financial institutions any loans issued between August 1, 1995 to July 31, 2000 that are in default of payments for at least 12 months after the period of study, that in aggregate, do not exceed 3% of the average monthly balance of the lender's outstanding student loans in repayments. The amount paid is set at 5% of the value of the loans in question. The figures represent the recovery of principal and interest on these loans.

Canada Study Grants and Canada Access Grants

Canada Study Grants and Canada Access Grants improve access to post-secondary education by providing non-repayable financial assistance to post-secondary students. Four types of Canada Study Grants are available to assist: (1) students with permanent disabilities in order to meet disability-related educational expenses (up to $8,000 annually); (2) students with dependants (up to $3,120 for full-time students and up to $1,920 for part-time students, annually); (3) high-need part-time students (up to $1,200 annually); and (4) women in certain fields of Ph.D. studies (up to $3,000 annually for up to three years). Two Canada Access Grants are available since August 1, 2005, to assist: (1) students from low-income families entering their first year of post-secondary studies (50% of tuition, up to $3,000); and (2) students with permanent disabilities in order to assist with education and living expenses (up to $2,000 annually)³⁷.

Collection Costs

These amounts represent the cost of using private collection agencies to collect defaulted Canada Student Loans. The loans being collected include: risk-shared and guaranteed loans that have gone into default and which the government has bought back from the private lender; and Direct Loans issued after July 31, 2000, that are returned to HRSDC by the third party service provider as having defaulted. As of August 1, 2005 the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Non Tax Collections Directorate undertook the responsibility for the administration of the collection activities of the guaranteed, risk-shared and direct student loans.

Service Provider Costs

Canada Student Loans Program uses third party service providers to administer loan origination, in-study loan management, post-studies repayment activities and debt management. This item represents the cost associated with these contracted services.

Risk Premium

Risk premium represents part of the remuneration offered to lending institutions participating in the risk-shared program from August 1, 1995 to July 31, 2000. The risk premium represents 5% of the value of loans being consolidated which is calculated and paid at the time students leave studies and go into repayment. In return, the lenders assume the risk associated with non-repayment of these loans.

Put-Back

Subject to the provisions of the contracts with lending institutions, the government will purchase from a lender the student loans that are in default of payment for at least 12 months and that, in aggregate, do not exceed 3% of the average monthly balance of the lender's outstanding student loans in repayments. The amount paid is set at 5% of the value of the loans in question. The figures also include any refund made to participating financial institutions on the recoveries.

Administrative Fees to Provinces and Territories

Pursuant to the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act (CSFA Act), the government has entered into arrangements with nine provinces and one territory to facilitate the administration of the Canada Student Loans Program. They administer the application and needs assessment activities associated with federal student financial assistance and in return they are paid an administrative fee. As of August 1, 2005 administrative fees paid to provinces were increased to improve the compensation for their part in the administration of the Canada Student Loans Program.

In-Study Interest Borrowing Expense

The capital needed to issue the Direct Loans is raised through the Department of Finance's general financing activities. The cost of borrowing this capital is recorded in the Department of Finance's overall financing operations. The figures represent the cost attributed to Canada Student Loans Program in support of Direct Loans while students are considered in study status. Weekly loan limits increased effective August 1, 2005. As more funds will be available to students, total loan disbursements are likely to grow, and as a result the in-study interest borrowing expense will rise.

In-Repayment Interest Borrowing Expense

The capital needed to issue the Direct Loans is raised through the Department of Finance's general financing activities. The cost of borrowing this capital is recorded in the Department of Finance's overall financing operations. The figures represent the cost attributed to Canada Student Loans Program in support of Direct Loans while students are in repayment of their Canada Student Loans.

In-Study Interest Subsidy

A central feature of federal student assistance is that student borrowers are not required to pay the interest on their student loans as long as they are in full-time study and, in the case of loans negotiated prior to August 1, 1993, for six months after the completion of studies. Under the guaranteed and risk-shared programs, the government pays the interest to the lending institutions on behalf of the student.

Interest Relief

Assistance may be provided to cover loan interest and suspend payments on the principal of loans in repayment for up to 54 months for borrowers experiencing temporary difficulties repaying their loans. The shift from Guaranteed and Risk-Shared Loans to Direct Loans did not alter interest relief for loans in distress from the borrower's perspective; however, the method of recording associated costs changed. For loans issued prior to August 1, 2000, Canada Student Loans Program compensates lending institutions for lost interest equal to the accrued interest amount on loans under Interest Relief (IR). For loans issued after August 1, 2000, an interest relief expense is recorded to offset the accrued interest on direct loans. Effective August 1, 2005 income thresholds used to determine IR eligibility increased in order to make IR accessible to a greater number of borrowers.

Debt Reduction in Repayment

Debt Reduction in Repayment assists borrowers experiencing long-term difficulties repaying their loans. It is a federal repayment assistance program through which the Government of Canada reduces a qualifying borrower's outstanding Canada Student Loans principal to an affordable amount after Interest Relief has been exhausted and only after 5 years have passed since the borrower ceased to be a student. As of August 1, 2005, the maximum amount of DRR assistance is $26,000, which is available to eligible borrowers in an initial deduction of up to $10,000, a second deduction of up to $10,000 and a final deduction of up to $6,000 For loans issued prior to August 1, 2000, Canada Student Loans Program pays the lending institutions the amount of student debt principal reduced by the Government of Canada under DRR. For loans issued after August 1, 2000, the Government of Canada forgives a portion of the loan principal.

Claims Paid and Loans Forgiven

From the beginning of the program in 1964 until July 31, 1995, the government fully guaranteed all loans issued to students by private lenders. The government reimburses private lenders for any of these loans that go into default (i.e., subject to specific criteria, lenders may claim any amount of principal and interest not repaid in full, after which the Canada Revenue Agency's Collection Services will attempt to recover these amounts).³⁸ The risk-shared arrangements also permitted loans issued from August 1, 1995 to July 31, 2000 to be guaranteed under specific circumstances. This item represents the costs associated with loan guarantees.

Pursuant to the Canada Student Loans Act and the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, the government incurs the full amount of the unpaid principal plus accrued interest in the event of the death of the borrower or, if the borrower becomes permanently disabled and cannot repay the loan without undue hardship.

Bad Debt Expense

Under Direct Loans, the government owns the loans issued to students and must record them as assets. As a result, generally accepted accounting principles require a provision be made for potential future losses associated with these loans. The provision must be made in the year the loans are issued even though the losses may occur many years later. The figures represent the annual expense against the provisions for Bad Debt and Debt Reduction in Repayment on Direct Loans.

Alternative Payments to Non-participating Provinces and Territories

Provinces and territories may choose not to participate in the Canada Student Loans Program. These provinces and territories receive an alternative payment to assist in the cost of delivering a similar student financial assistance program.

Note to Reader:

The following unaudited financial statements are prepared in accordance with accrual accounting principles. Any other financial tables included in the Departmental Performance Report are prepared on a modified cash basis accounting in order to be consistent with appropriations-based reporting. Consequently, readers might not be able to reconcile financial information included in the following unaudited financial statements with the rest of the financial information included in this report.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
for the Year Ended March 31, 2007

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Management Responsibility for unaudited Financial Statements

Responsibility for the integrity and objectivity of the accompanying financial statements for the year ended March 31^st, 2007 and all information contained in these unaudited financial statements rests with the Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) management. These financial statements have been prepared by the management of Service Canada in agreement with the management of HRSDC and were prepared in accordance with Treasury Board accounting policies which are consistent with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector.

Some of the information in the financial statements is based on management's best estimates and judgments and gives due consideration to materiality. To fulfil its accounting and reporting responsibilities, management maintains a set of accounts that provides a centralized record of HRSDC's financial transactions. Financial information submitted to the Public Accounts of Canada and included in HRSDC's Departmental Performance Report is consistent with these financial statements.

Management maintains a system of financial management and internal control designed to provide reasonable assurance that financial information is reliable, that assets are safeguarded and that transactions are in accordance with the Financial Administration Act, are executed in accordance with prescribed regulations, within Parliamentary authorities, and are properly recorded to maintain accountability of Government funds. Management also seeks to ensure the objectivity and integrity of data in its financial statements by careful selection, training and development of qualified staff, by organizational arrangements that provide appropriate divisions of responsibility, and by communication programs aimed at ensuring that regulations, policies, standards and managerial authorities are understood throughout the organisation.

Management is also supported and assisted by programs of internal audit and evaluation services and audit committees. The HRSDC Management Audit and Evaluation Committee (MAEC) is a management committee which provides advice and guidance to the Deputy Minister on the results-driven accountability system of the department. The key responsibility of the MAEC is to exercise active oversight on core areas of departmental control and accountability. As well, Service Canada's Audit & Evaluation Committee (AEC) provides assurance on all key aspects of Service Canada's control frameworks and practices, the assessment of the effectiveness of its service delivery, and the relevance and appropriateness of the information used to support decision-making and reporting. The Office of the Auditor General has free and full access to the MAEC and AEC

The financial statements of HRSDC have not been audited.

August 23, 2007

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements

Contingent liabilities (Note 17)
Contractual obligations (Note 18)
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. Authority and objectives

The Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) was established, effective February 6, 2006, through the amalgamation of the departments of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Social Development Canada, as an agent of Her Majesty of Canada. It is a Department named in the Schedule I of the Financial Administration Act and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

HRSDC works to improve the standard of living and the quality of life of all Canadians by promoting a highly skilled and mobile workforce as well as an efficient and inclusive labour market. It supports human capital development, labour market development and is dedicated to establishing a culture of life long learning for Canadians.

Service Canada (SC) is a branch of HRSDC and is the public's primary access point to many Government of Canada programs and services, providing better, one-stop service to more Canadians in more communities. SC will continue to bring federal services and benefits together making it easier for Canadians to get more of the help they need in one place. SC integrates a range of services from a number of federal departments to form a single service delivery network.

HRSDC operates under a number of Acts and Regulations: Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act, Old Age Security Act and Regulations, Employment Insurance Act and Regulations, Government Annuities Act, Canada Pension Plan Act and Regulations, Canada Student Financial Assistance Act and Regulations, Canada Student Loans Act and Regulations, Corporations and Labour Unions Returns Act, Section 16, and Regulations, Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act and Regulations, Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Status of the Artist Act, Part II and Regulations, Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act and Wages Liability Act, Canada Labour Code and Regulations, Employment Equity Act and Regulations and Labour Adjustment Benefits Act.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada achieves its objectives under ten major programs:

Social Investment

Provides Canadians with pensions and benefits for retirement, death, and disability through the Old Age Security Act and the Canada Pension Plan. It also includes Social Investment programs, policies and grants and contributions designed to ensure that children, families, seniors, communities and people with disabilities are provided with knowledge, information and opportunities to move forward with their own solutions to social and economic challenge.

Provides support to families to ensure all children have the best possible start in life, that parents have choice in childcare, to ensure the needs of those who provide care to loved ones are taken into account and that families' economic security is sustained through programs such as the Canada's Universal Child Care Plan, the National Child Benefit, and Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care.

Employment Insurance

Provides temporary financial assistance for unemployed Canadians, as well as to Canadians who need to take a temporary absence from work due to sickness, pregnancy, to care for a newborn or adopted child, or to provide care or support to a gravely ill family member with a significant risk of death.

Employment Programs

Enables Canadians, including unemployed adult individuals and targeted groups such as youth and Aboriginal peoples, to develop their skills and encourage them to become self-reliant, invest in themselves and become more adaptable to labour market changes.

Learning

Supports the Government of Canada's significant investments in skills and learning to assist Canadians to acquire, throughout their lives, the education and skills that will enable them to participate more fully in a knowledge-based economy and society. In collaboration with provinces, territories, learning institutions, community-based organizations and other key stakeholders, the following programs are delivered: Canada Student Loans, Canada Study Grants, Canada Education Savings Grant, Canada Learning Bond, National Literacy Secretariat, Learning Initiatives Program, International Academic Mobility and Office of Learning Technologies.

Service Delivery

Provides direct, in-person service to clients through an integrated service delivery network as part of the Service Canada Initiative; delivering seamless citizen-centered service that is integrated, easy to access, simple to use, tailored for the individual circumstance, efficient and sustainable. This will enhance the integrity of programs by building public trust and confidence and ensuring that the right client receives the right service and benefits at the right time and for the intended purpose.

Homelessness

Assists communities, through partnerships, in implementing measures that help homeless individuals and families to move toward self-sufficiency, to become active in society and contribute to the economy.

Labour

The Labour program activity promotes and sustains stable industrial relations and a safe, fair, healthy, equitable and productive workplace within the federal labour jurisdiction. It collects and disseminates labour and workplace information, represents Canada at international labour activities, fosters constructive labour-management relationships and ensures that minimum labour standards and occupational health and safety protections are enforced.

Workplace Skills

Supports the collaboration of industry partners and stakeholders in identifying, addressing and promoting workplace skills development and recognition issues that reflect the realities of Canadian workplaces in our rapidly evolving labour market. Workplace also develops and disseminates knowledge and information from a national, regional and local perspective, which is vital in supporting and contributing to a well-functioning labour market.

Social Development Policy and Innovation

Leads and collaborates with key partners to mobilize the many levers across governments and society that together drive social development and well-being in Canada.

Advances policy development across the spectrum of new and emerging social policy issues, leading to the development of policies, programs and knowledge products that are relevant and responsive to Canadians' needs and expectations and that fosters social development and well-being in Canada.

Develops policies that enable communities to enhance their own skills and resources to address locally identified needs and improve the lives of Canadians.

Policy and Program Support

Provides an evidence basis for the review and development of broad policy frameworks and strategies. It provides audit, evaluation and research that underpin strategic policy and ensure accountability. It also oversees the establishment of relationships with other governments and stakeholders as well as plays a key role in planning, communications and ministerial support services.

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Treasury Board accounting policies which are consistent with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector.

Significant accounting policies are as follows:

(a) Parliamentary appropriations - HRSDC is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary appropriations. Appropriations provided to the department do not parallel financial reporting according to generally accepted accounting principles since appropriations are primarily based on cash flow requirements. Consequently, items recognized in the statement of operations and the statements of financial position are not necessarily those provided through appropriations from Parliament. Note 3 provides a high-level reconciliation between the bases of reporting.

(b) Net Cash Provided by Government - HRSDC operates within the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) which is administered by the Receiver General for Canada. All cash received by HRSDC is deposited to the CRF and all cash disbursements made by HRSDC are paid from the CRF. The net cash provided by Government is the difference between all cash receipts and all cash disbursements including transactions between departments of the federal government.

(c) Change in net position in the Consolidated Revenue Fund is the difference between the net cash provided by Government and appropriations used in a year, excluding the amount of non respendable revenue recorded by the department. It results from timing differences between when a transaction affects appropriations and when it is processed through the CRF.

(d) Revenues:

• EI Premiums are recognized as revenue in the period in which they are earned. EI Premiums earned in the period are measured from amounts assessed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and from estimates of amounts not assessed based on cash received. Premium revenue also includes adjustments between actual and estimated premiums of previous years.
• Interest revenues on student loans are recognized in the year they are earned.
• Recoveries of Canada Pension Plan administration costs are recognized in the accounts based on the services provided in the year.
• Other revenues are accounted for in the year in which the underlying transaction or event occurred that gave rise to the revenues.

(e) Expenses - Expenses are recorded on the accrual basis:

• Grants are recognized in the year in which the conditions for payment are met. In the case of grants which do not form part of an existing program, the expense is recognized when the Government announces a decision to make a non-recurring transfer, provided the enabling legislation or authorization for payment receives parliamentary approval prior to the completion of the financial statements.
• Contributions are recognized in the year in which the recipient has met the eligibility criteria or fulfilled the terms of a contractual transfer agreement.
• Vacation pay and compensatory leave are expensed as the benefits accrue to employees under their respective terms of employment.
• Services that are provided without charge by other federal government departments for the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans and legal services are recorded as operating expenses at their estimated costs.

(f) Employee future benefits:

• Pension benefits: Eligible employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan, a multi-employer plan administered by the Government of Canada. HRSDC contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year incurred and represent the total departmental obligation to the Plan. Current legislation does not require HRSDC to make contributions for any actuarial deficiencies of the Plan.
• Severance benefits: Employees are entitled to severance benefits, as provided for under labour contracts or conditions of employment. These benefits are accrued as employees render the services necessary to earn them. The obligation relating to the benefits earned by employees is calculated using information derived from the results of the actuarially determined liability for employee severance benefits for the Government as a whole.

(g) Accounts receivable - Accounts receivable are stated at amounts expected to be ultimately realized. A provision is made for accounts receivable where recovery is considered uncertain.

(h) Canada Student Loans - Loans are recorded at original cost plus accrued interest receivable less reimbursements and valuation allowances. Interest revenue is accrued in the period earned for loans in good standing. Interest is not accrued on loans considered unrecoverable.

An allowance is recorded in HRSDC's financial statements in order to consider bad debts and debt reduction in repayment (DRR) for Canada Student Loans. The allowance rate is determined according to an actuarial estimate based on the age of the accounts and their status. For the year ended March 31, 2007, the rate was established at 14.6% (14.6% in 2006) of the disbursements incurred since the beginning of the program for bad debts and at 0.7% (0.7% in 2006) of the same amount for DRR. The allowance for bad debts is calculated on a monthly basis.

(i) Contingent liabilities - Contingent liabilities are potential liabilities which may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. To the extent that the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, an estimated liability is accrued and an expense recorded. If the likelihood is not determinable or an amount cannot be reasonably estimated, the contingency is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.

(j) Tangible capital assets - All tangible capital assets and leasehold improvements having an initial cost of $10,000 or more are recorded at their acquisition cost. Amortization of tangible capital assets is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:

(k) Measurement uncertainty - The preparation of these financial statements in accordance with the Treasury Board accounting policies which are consistent with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the financial statements. At the time of preparation of these statements, management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable. The most significant items where estimates are used are the determination of the allowances for doubtful accounts, the contingent liabilities, the liability for employee severance benefits, the EI premiums, the OAS benefit repayments and the useful life of tangible capital assets. Actual results could significantly differ from those estimated. These estimates are reviewed periodically and, as adjustments become necessary, they are recorded in the financial statements in the year they become known.

3. Parliamentary appropriations

HRSDC receives most of its operating funding through annual Parliamentary appropriations. Items recognized in the statement of operations and the statement of financial position in one year may be funded through Parliamentary appropriations in prior, current or future years. Accordingly, HRSDC has different net costs of operations for the year on a government funding basis than on an accrual accounting basis. Furthermore, as a consolidated specified purpose account, the Employment Insurance (EI) account expenses and revenues recognized in HRSDC's statement of operations do not affect Parliamentary appropriations. The differences are reconciled in the following tables:

(a) Reconciliation of net cost of operations to current year appropriations used:

(b) Appropriations provided and used:

c) Reconciliation of net cash provided by Government to current year appropriations used:

4. Expenses

The following table presents details of expenses by category:

The operating expenditures of HRSDC include the consolidated expenditures of the EI account, which amount to $1,736,640 thousand ($1,631,894 thousand in 2006).

5. Revenues

The following table presents details of revenues by category:

6. Accounts receivable and advances

The following table presents details of accounts receivable and advances:

7. Canada Student Loans

Loans issued on or after August 1, 2000 are operated under the authority of section 6.1 of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, which authorizes HRSDC to enter into loan agreements directly with qualifying students. Direct Loans and the Risk-Shared Loans under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act are provided interest-free to full-time students and afterwards bear interest at either a variable rate of 2.5% above the prime rate or a fixed rate of 5.0% above the prime rate. The maximum repayment period is 10 years.

Loans issued prior to August 1, 2000 include loans outstanding which are amounts related to student loans subrogated to the Crown under the Canada Student Loans Act and under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act. The Guaranteed Loans under the Canada Student Loans Act are provided interest-free to full-time students and afterwards bear interest as was set by the Canada Student Loan Program. The maximum repayment period is 10 years.

Guaranteed and Risk-Shared loans write-offs for the year ended March 31, 2007 are $159 million ($54 million in 2006) and payments received while account is in write-off status are $0.3 million ($0.4 million in 2006).

8. Prepaid expenses

Prepayments on transfer payments are issued when it is necessary to meet program objectives and it is permitted under the agreement. Prepayments on transfer payments do not exceed the expenditures expected to be incurred by the recipient during April. Other prepaid expenses include prepayments of postage, rent, maintenance fees, legal fees and other operations expenses.

9. Tangible capital assets

Amortization expense for the year ended March 31, 2007 is $61.1 million ($72.3 million in 2006).

10. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

11. Employee benefits

(a) Pension benefits: The department's employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan, which is sponsored and administered by the Government of Canada. Pension benefits accrue up to a maximum period of 35 years at a rate of 2% per year of pensionable service, times the average of the best five consecutive years of earnings. The benefits are integrated with Canada/Quebec Pension Plans benefits and they are indexed to inflation.

Both the employees and the department contribute to the cost of the Plan. The expense for the year ended March 31, 2007 amounts to $167.7 million ($180 million in 2006), which represents approximately 2.2 times the contributions by employees (2.6 in 2006). The department's responsibility with regard to the Plan is limited to its contributions. Actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the financial statements of the Government of Canada, as the Plan’s sponsor.

(b) Severance benefits: The department provides severance benefits to its employees based on eligibility, years of service and final salary. The severance benefit liability is based on a percentage provided by Treasury Board, applied to the eligible payroll as at March 31. Treasury Board determines the percentage based on an actuarial evaluation of the future liability for the entire government eligible employees. The rate as at March 31, 2007 was 23.64% (23.2% at March 31, 2006). These severance benefits are not pre-funded. Benefits will be paid from future appropriations. Information about the severance benefits, measured as at March 31, is as follows:

12. Government Annuities

HRSDC administers the Government Annuities Accounts. This account was established by the Government Annuities Act, and modified by the Government Annuities Improvement Act, which discontinued sales of annuities in 1975. The account is valued on an actuarial basis each year, with the deficit or surplus charged or credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The purpose of the Government Annuities Act was to assist Canadians to provide for their later years, by the purchase of Government annuities.

Receipts and other credits consist of premiums received, funds reclaimed from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for previously untraceable annuitants, earned interest and any transfer needed to cover the actuarial deficit. Payments and other charges represent matured annuities, the commuted value of death benefits, premium refunds and withdrawals, and actuarial surpluses and unclaimed items transferred to non-tax revenues. The amounts of unclaimed annuities, related to untraceable annuitants, are transferred to non-tax revenues.

Total income amounted to $23.4 million ($24.5 million in 2006), $22.5 million ($24.4 million in 2006) of which represented interest of 7% credited to the account. Premiums received totalled $21,253 ($8,200 in 2006). Total disbursements of $48.3 million ($51 million in 2006) originated mainly from the $47.9 million ($50.5 million in 2006) in payments made under matured annuities. An amount of $71,877 ($98,379 in 2006) was used to refund premiums at death before maturity or when the annuity would have been too small, and $180,781 ($202,346 in 2006) was transferred to the Consolidated Revenue Fund as a result of unclaimed annuities.

13. Due to Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

The Minister of HRSDC, on behalf of the Government of Canada, is responsible for the administration of the Canada Pension Plan. The financial activities of the Canada Pension Plan (the Plan) are not part of HRSDC's reporting entity because it is under joint control of the federal and the participating provincial governments. Established in 1965, the CPP operates in all parts of Canada, except in Quebec which operates a comparable program.

The Plan is a compulsory and contributory social insurance program which is designed to provide a measure of protection to Canadian workers and their families against loss of earnings due to retirement, disability or death.

Under existing arrangements, all pensions, benefits and expenditures incurred in the administration of the Plan are financed from contributions made by employees, employers and self-employed persons, and from investment returns.

The CPP account (the Account) was established in the accounts of Canada by the CPP Act to record the contributions, interests, pensions and benefits and operating expenses of the Plan. It also records the amounts transferred to or received from the CPP Investment Board.

The revenues and expenses are recorded as increases and decreases to the account. The detailed revenue, expenses, assets and liabilities are reported in the CPP distinct set of Consolidated Audited Financial Statements. The year-end liability represents the balance of the CPP assets on deposit in the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

14. Other liabilities

Labour Market Development Agreement - Ontario: HRSDC and the Government of Ontario (Ontario) entered into a Labour Market Development Agreement on January 1st, 2007 where the design and delivery of the active employment benefits and support measures have been devolved to the province. A specified purpose account was established to account for funds received from Ontario to support interim administrative agreements.

Civil Service Insurance Fund: This account was established by the Civil Service Insurance Act, introduced to enable the Minister of Finance to contract with a person appointed to a permanent position in any branch of the public service, for the payment of certain death benefits. No new contracts have been entered into since 1954, when the Supplementary Death Benefit Plan for the Public Service and Canadian Forces was introduced as part of the Public Service Superannuation Act and the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, respectively. As of April 1^st, 1997, the Department of HRSDC assumed responsibility for the administration and the actuarial valuation of the Civil Service Insurance Act.

Other liabilities: This account includes certain other funds in which special categories of revenues and expenses report transactions of certain accounts where enabling legislation requires that revenues be earmarked, and that related expenses be charged against such revenues. The expenses and revenues are recorded as increases and decreases to the liability accounts and are not recorded as revenues and expenses of HRSDC.

15. Equity of Canada

The department includes in its revenues and expenses transactions of the Employment Insurance program. The Employment Insurance Act and regulations requires that the employer and employee contributions and related revenue be segregated and that related expenses be charged against this revenue.

16. Transfer of Activities

On September 12, 2005 the Prime Minister announced a significant reorganization of government. Effective April 1, 2006 Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) has transferred the Public Access Programs which includes the four following areas: Canada Site, Publiservice, Canada Enquiry Centre, and Gateways and Clusters; to the department under the Service Canada initiative. The prior year figures have not been restated to reflect this transfer. The effect on the 2007 Statement of Financial Position is shown as follows:

The bulk of the revenues and expenses for these programs remained with PWGSC for the 2006-07 fiscal year as the funding will not be provided to the department until the 2007-08 fiscal year. Comparative figures are not available since the necessary financial information is not reasonably determinable.

17. Contingent Liabilities

(a) Claims and litigation

Claims, litigations and grievances have been made against the department in the normal course of operations. Some of these potential liabilities may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. To the extent that the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, an estimated liability is accrued and an expense recorded in the financial statements. Based on Justice Canada's legal assessment of potential liability, no liability was recorded at March 31, 2007.

(b) Loan guarantees

Losses on loan guarantees are recorded in the accounts when it is likely that a payment will be made to honour a guarantee and where the amount of the anticipated loss can be reasonably estimated. The amount of the allowance for losses is determined by taking into consideration historical loss experience and current economic conditions. The increase or decrease in the allowance for loan losses between years is recorded in operating expenses. As at March 31, 2007, HRSDC has guaranteed the following debt:

Under the Canada Student Loans Act, HRSDC guarantees loans made by banks, credit unions, and certain other companies to qualifying students. The terms of repayment are established on the basis of the attendance at a designated educational institution. As at March 31, 2007, HRSDC has an allowance for loan losses of $29.2 million for these guarantees ($38.5 million as at March 31, 2006).

18. Contractual obligations

The nature of the HRSDC's activities can result in some large multi-year contracts and obligations whereby HRSDC will be obligated to make future payments when the services/goods are received. Significant contractual obligations that can be reasonably estimated are summarized as follows:

19. Related party transactions

HRSDC is related in terms of common ownership to all Government of Canada departments, agencies and Crown Corporations. The department enters into transactions with these entities in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms. Also, during the year, the department received services which were obtained without charge from other federal government departments as presented in part (a).

(a) Services provided without charge:

During the year, HRSDC received services without charge from other federal government departments. These services include the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans and legal fees. These services without charge have been recognized in the department's Statement of Operations as follows:

The Government has structured some of its administrative activities for efficiency and cost-effectiveness purposes so that one department performs these on behalf of all without charge. The costs of these services, which include payroll and cheque issuance services provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada and audit services provided by the Office of the Auditor General, are not included as an expense in the department's Statement of Operations.

(b) Agreements signed with other federal government departments:

HRSDC, through the Service Canada (SC) initiative, has several agreements with other federal government departments in order to provide Canadians with better access to programs and services. As of March 31, 2007, SC had signed agreements with the following departments: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Passport Canada, Transport Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Department of National Defence, Public Service Commission, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Heritage, Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolutions Canada and Fisheries and Oceans.

20. Comparative information

Comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.